US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin, setting a two-week deadline to see progress on Ukraine. He hinted at a shift in US policy if Moscow continues to delay meaningful steps toward peace.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he would know in “about two weeks” whether Putin is stalling. He added that a different US response would follow if Russia keeps dragging its feet.
Trump’s comments follow a week of brutal attacks by Russia on Ukraine. Over the weekend, Russian missile strikes killed 13 people in Kyiv and injured dozens more. By Wednesday, the assault had only intensified.
Despite a two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin last week, no peace memorandum has materialized. Trump said the call went well, but the Kremlin’s promises remain unfulfilled. The renewed attacks suggest Putin is not backing down.
Trump has grown more vocal in recent days. On social media, he accused Putin of going “absolutely crazy” and “playing with fire.” He claimed Russia’s behavior would have triggered “really bad things” if not for his intervention.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has taken few actions against Russia. Most of the pressure has fallen on Ukraine, including an eight-day pause on US military support in March. The White House insists sanctions remain and denies claims of appeasement.
Still, critics argue Trump’s approach has emboldened Moscow. After restoring contact with Russian officials earlier this year, Putin raised new demands. These include Ukraine giving up unoccupied land and accepting Crimea as Russian territory.
Trump has also softened his stance. His original demand for an immediate 30-day ceasefire has now shifted to calls for a summit with Putin. So far, Ukraine has agreed to ceasefire terms, but Russia has not.
Germany recently pledged to help Ukraine produce long-range missiles. This move could escalate the war, with the Kremlin warning such weapons would derail peace efforts.
Trump’s two-week deadline signals a growing urgency. If no progress occurs, the White House may rethink its approach.
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